Compare towns
Erwin vs Parma vs Chenango Bridge vs Ballston Spa
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Erwin has the shortest commute (15 min average).
Parma has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
Chenango Bridge has the most affordable homes ($168k median).
Ballston Spa has the most people working from home (18.6%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Erwin | Parma | Chenango Bridge | Ballston Spa |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,965 |
16,111Highest |
3,116Lowest |
5,027 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.7% NY: +4.2% |
+3.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
0% NY: +4.2% |
-5.5%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 43.8±2Highest 10% above NY |
40.4±3.3 about the NY average |
35.9±4.8Lowest 10% below NY |
42.7±3.3 7% above NY |
| Erwin and Ballston Spa are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±3.7Lowest NY: 20.5% |
25.6%±3.3 NY: 20.5% |
27.3%±6.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
21.5%±6.5 NY: 20.5% |
| Chenango Bridge and Parma are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±2.8 NY: 17.9% |
18.3%±2.1 NY: 17.9% |
23.5%±3.9Highest NY: 17.9% |
14.1%±2.8Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Chenango Bridge and Parma are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.2%Highest NY: 40.2% |
35.9%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
38.6% NY: 40.2% |
45.8% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9Highest NY: 7% |
4.3%±1.2Highest NY: 7% |
3.4%±1.7Lowest NY: 7% |
4.1%±2.5 NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $88,333±$16kLowest about the NY average |
$93,558±$8k 9% above NY |
$96,250±$27k 12% above NY |
$101,667±$15kHighest 18% above NY |
| Ballston Spa and Chenango Bridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $223,700±$26k 47% below NY |
$220,000±$15k 48% below NY |
$168,200±$15kLowest 60% below NY |
$308,200±$29kHighest 27% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,271±$136Highest 22% below NY |
$1,216±$111 25% below NY |
$1,134±$122 30% below NY |
$1,122±$238Lowest 31% below NY |
| Erwin and Parma are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,829Highest 11% below NY |
$5,549 16% below NY |
$3,661Lowest 44% below NY |
$5,335 19% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±14 NY: 52.1% |
49.8%±15.2 NY: 52.1% |
73.2%±100Highest NY: 52.1% |
37.9%±20.3Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Chenango Bridge and Erwin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.3%Highest NY: 14% |
8.1% NY: 14% |
5.6%Lowest NY: 14% |
8.5% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2% NY: 54.3% |
82.3% NY: 54.3% |
88.4%Highest NY: 54.3% |
65.5%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 18 yrs newer than NY |
1976 17 yrs newer than NY |
1959 same as NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 54% below NY |
22 min 32% below NY |
24 min 28% below NY |
25 minHighest 24% below NY |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4.3Lowest NY: 14.9% |
10.3%±2.2 NY: 14.9% |
11.2%±7.8 NY: 14.9% |
18.6%±7.6Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Ballston Spa and Chenango Bridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #431 of 484 in NY | #88 of 484 in NY | — | — |
| School district | CORNING CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | HILTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | HILTON HIGH SCHOOL | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NY average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.